Hunting Links

Turkey Management in Oklahoma

Managing wild
turkeys in Oklahoma is a different proposition than it was only decades ago.
Where once the sole objective was the restoration of wild turkey
populations, today’s biologists are faced with new challenges, such as
maintaining high carrying capacities by fine tuning habitat and harvest
regulations. Modern distributions of the Eastern and Rio Grande subspecies
are drastically different from pioneer days, with management philosophies,
strategies and goals differing from one subspecies to the other.

Rio Grande Turkey

This subspecies inhabits a much wider range than it did originally,
partly because these birds were more available than Eastern turkeys during
the era of restorations. They were able to adapt easily, reproduce
successfully and expand quickly all through the west, crosstimbers areas and
finally into the hill country of mid-eastern Oklahoma. Today, populations are
stable and trap and transplant operations are seldom used.

These turkeys are no longer confined to river systems, since roost sites are
now available in tree rows, shelterbelts and upland timber, which was not
available before man settled the Oklahoma prairie. This has dispersed
populations of birds across the western three-fourths of the state, and made
them more accessible to sportsmen. Turkey hunters have a legitimate chance
to bag a spring tom on many of the Department’s lands open to public
hunting.

On wildlife management areas, biologists enhance turkey habitat by
planting winter food plants such as wheat, rye grass or alfalfa, renewing
plant succession by burning or disking, planting mast trees such as oaks and
pecans, and planting roost trees (mostly cottonwoods) in areas that are
otherwise suitable for supporting populations. Moderate grazing, like that
observed on some wildlife management areas, can help enhance poult rearing
and feeding areas.

Eastern Turkeys

Oklahoma’s current population of Eastern wild turkeys is within
a range much smaller than it was originally. Generally confined
to the rugged mountains of southeast and far eastern Oklahoma,
the population status of this subspecies is considered less
stable than its western Oklahoma cousin.

Eastern turkey populations spiked in the 1980s, but weather for
reproduction and poult survival led to depressed populations by
the early 1990s. More restrictive harvest regulations and better
weather for successful nesting and poult production has recently
led to dramatic increases in Eastern turkey flocks with reduced
limits and seasons for Easterns.

On wildlife management areas, biologists are using new
knowledge and understanding of the Eastern turkey to enhance habitat. Once
it was thought that the Eastern subspecies had evolved to become a creature
of undisturbed forest – a theory which has been disproved. Openings in the
forest canopy are now seen as critically important for poult production and
brooding areas. Dense underbrush in these openings provides nesting sites
while open ground makes good “bugging” areas for turkeys, especially poults.
Managers have begun opening such plots amid previously undisturbed forest.

Green winter
food plots and renewal of plant succession through prescribed burning or
disking are also good management technique in eastern range. Mast and roost
trees are generally not as lacking as they are in the west, but in some
areas planting these trees is still a part of management plans.